One year ago today in Ukraine
It was exactly one year ago today that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops into Ukraine. Back then, most military experts predicted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wouldn't last a week. How wrong they were. Five days ago, Zelensky welcomed President Joe Biden to Kyiv, Ukraine's capital.
Here in Laguna, people of all political stripes came together last year several times to demonstrate their support for Ukraine. First, there was a gathering adjacent to City Hall. Second, there was a rally at Main Beach. And third, there was a $100,000 fundraiser at Laguna Art Museum. Now that the war is entering its second year, I expect friends and neighbors in Laguna will once again demonstrate their support for Ukraine.
Imagine waking up a year ago to find tanks rolling down coast highway, bombing the hospital and indiscriminately blowing up homes in North Laguna, Woods Cove and Top of the World. I dare say everyone in town would be in panic mode. This is precisely the kind of thing that happened on Feb. 24th last year in Ukraine. I will never forget it. My hope is Indy readers won't, either.
Denny Freidenrich, Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach High School students working on solving water issues on the other side of the world
Last week, Denny Freidenrich and I met with a dozen Laguna Beach High School students working to bring clean water to villages in Africa and Asia where women and children must walk miles each day for this basic necessity of life.
As part of “Walking for Water,” a nonprofit founded by Laguna resident Susan Hough, these young activists’ mantra is “If they have to walk for water, so can we.”
Denny and I were so impressed with these students’ commitment to help others. Last year this group raised $100,000, which paid for wells, a school in a Tibetan refugee camp in rural India and tuition for kids in Africa who otherwise would be unable to further their education. To date, the nonprofit has built 37 wells in West Africa and India and paid 4,174 kids’ tuition in sync with their mission statement: “Water is Life. Knowledge is power.” Their goal on March 26 is to match or exceed $100,000 this year.
Thanks to Hough and her nonprofit, Laguna Beach High School students are learning early that by expanding their circle of caring beyond themselves, they can make positive changes in individuals’ lives, making the world a more connected and better place for all of us. We invite you to meet and sponsor these teens next month at their high school walk-a-thon and auction.
To find out more about the group’s goals and how you can help, please click on www.wisdomspring.org.
Robin Pierson, Laguna Beach
Very impressive Denny. I have been thinking lately that I wish Newport Beach would aspire to some selfless act of kindness and support for the needy.